"Just this thing left, then I can leave by lunch." Mansi sighed looking at the file in her hand.
"Ma'am?" Kiya knocked on her cabin door.
"Yes Kiya?"
"Rey sir wants to meet you." Kiya informed.
"Just when I thought that I could leave early for once." Mansi grumbled rubbing her temples.
"Ma'am?" Kiya called her nervously. She could sense Mansi getting angrier by the second.
"Ask Naveen to handle it."
"Ma'am Naveen is on leave this week." Kiya informed and Mansi clenched her jaws. "Ma'am I can ask one of the interns to take notes and convey them to you." Kiya instantly came up with a solution. Mansi nodded.
"Taani!" Kiya spotted her as soon as she came out of the cabin.
"Hi Kiya. What's up?" Taani greeted her.
"No time. Run to Rey sir's cabin and take notes on the new project which has come up." Kiya instructed her.
"But I have work which Naveen has asked me to complete." Taani interrupted her.
"That can wait. Do this first and report to Mansi ma'am by lunchtime. For some reason she is a ticking bomb today." Kiya shivered a little.
"Don't worry, I'm on it. But what is the project about?"
"I have no idea. Rey sir just asked me to send someone."
...
"Come in." Rey said when he heard the knock on his door.
"Just three things Manas; break down the walls separating the cabins, tables centered, storage one side and make it a little less boring to work." He instructed while arranging a few files into boxes.
"Um, Rey?" Taani called to gain his attention.
"Taani? Tum? Sorry, mujhe laga Manas hai." He diverted his attention from the files.
"Mansi ma'am ne hi bheja hai."
"Maine usko aane bola tha." Rey was confused.
"She is busy I guess. Kiya asked me to come and meet you." Taani explained. "Yeh sab packing, kyu?" She looked around at the scattered boxes.
"Cleaning up. Let's head to the corner there. Baith ke baat karte hai." He pointed to a small table in the corner of his cabin with two chairs across it.
"What were you saying earlier about walls and stuff?" Taani asked.
"Sharon, Swayam aur mera ek bade project pe kaam chalu hua hai. So, we just want to re-model our cabins. Nothing much."
"Aisa kaunsa project hai jiske liye itna sab karne ki zarurat pad gayi?"
"Hai ek. You can call this our dream project." He had a spark in his eyes which she didn't fail to notice.
"It must be. You seem excited for it." Taani smiled at him.
"I am, luv." He smiled back.
"Toh bataayien hume aapki kya seva karni hogi?" Taani bit her lower lip to hide her smile.
"Seva karne ke liye toh poori zindagi padi hai." He winked.
"Rey!" She wailed controlling her blush.
"Tumhi ne shuru kiya." He smirked.
"Aur tumhe continue karne ki jarurat nahi thi." She pouted.
"Agar main continue nahi karta toh kitna arrogant lagta ki tum flirt kar rahi ho aur main koi response nahi de raha. Just think." His smirk grew wider.
"I wasn't flirting." She bit her lower lip unknowingly.
"This" he repeated her action "defines as flirting."
"Can we get back to work, please?" She looked down at her notepad.
"Bata toh diya sab."
"Toh main jau?"
"Jana jaruri hai?" He scrunched up his nose, making her smile at his hidden request of staying.
"I have to report to Mansi ma'am before she leaves."
"Alright go to your Mansi ma'am." He got up. "Meri toh koi kadar hi nahi hai." He muttered under his breath loud enough for her to hear.
"Kadar hai. But she is my boss and I'm not in the mood of getting fired."
"Well if that's the case, I am her boss and I won't let that happen."
"Rey, you promised. No favors."
"Yeah yeah, I remember. Now run before she comes in here looking for you."
Taani left and Rey got back to sorting his files into boxes.
"Excuse me ma'am." Taani knocked on Mansi's cabin.
"What has he asked for?" Mansi asked her.
"They want to remodel the three cabins into one, with storage on one side and their tables in the centre." Taani briefed her.
"That's his brief Taani. What do we need to do?"
"I didn't get you." Taani was confused.
"He obviously hasn't called for help to move tables. What do we have to work on?" Mansi was starting to get annoyed.
"He told that he needed help with just this. Nothing else."
"Then isn't it your job to find out all the work which needs to be done?" Mansi banged the file in her hand on the desk, startling Taani. "And if that's all he said, then what took you so long?" She got up and folded her arms across her chest.
"I, uh, we, um, the thing is.." Taani was stuttering.
"The thing is that this isn't a fictional novel where he would fall for you and you both will live happily ever after. This is reality. He is your boss. It was your job to take note of the work and not ogle at him!" Mansi rebuked her.
"I wasn't.."
"Oh, I've seen you stare at him so don't try to deny it. What I say might sound rude to you but, shift your focus from him to your work. It'll help you. Now get back to your work, I'll talk to him." Mansi dismissed her.
"Yes ma'am." Taani replied with a weak voice and exited her cabin.
On her way out, she collided with Rey. "Sorry." She apologized looking down and moved ahead to go to her desk.
"Taani?" Rey stopped her and she looked up at him. "What's wrong?" He asked studying her face.
"Nothing." She replied and he glared. "Apart from a scolding that I got from ma'am for coming late." She confessed meekly.
"Manas ke inn chote scoldings pe tum rone lag jaogi toh agar usne kabhi sacchi mein chilla diya tumpe toh kya karogi?"
"I wasn't crying." She opposed.
"Oh, eyes mein kachra gaya hoga, nahi?" He taunted.
"I need to get back to work. Aur tum bhi shayad ma'am se milne aaye ho. So, I'll leave?"
"Okay." He went in to Mansi's cabin.
"Rey, learn to knock." Mansi complained.
"And you learn to come when I call for you." He replied in the same tone.
"I was busy."
"Duniya bhar ka kaam jo hai tere paas." He chuckled.
"Tu hi toh laata hai." She rolled her eyes at him. "Abhi bakwas karne aaya hai ya kuch kaam hai?"
"Teko kya hua hai?" He eyed her.
"Kuch nahi." She picked up the phone to make a call. "Kiya, send Taani in." She instructed.
"How is your mom?" Rey inquired.
"High cholesterol. On the borderline for diabetes. And liver almost damaged from drinking. How do you think she is?" She sighed.
"Doctor ne kya kahan hai?"
"Suggested to put her in the rehabilitation centre again."
"You need to be patient with her." He squeezed her hand.
"She was off of alcohol for so long and she was doing well. Abhi pata nahi phirse kyun."
"Stay strong and give her the support she needs." He gave her hand another squeeze.
"Ma'am, you called?" Taani came in.
"Now that you are here, you are going to take notes for me. So Rey, shall we start?" Mansi quickly composed herself.
"What?" He looked from Mansi to Taani and back to Mansi.
"Merese kya kaam karwana hai tujhe?" Mansi was annoyed by this point.
"Merese!" Rey chuckled reminiscing Taani's annoyance with the word making her smile as well.
"Taani, care to focus on your work rather than him?" Mansi shot a glare at her.
"Manas!" Rey immediately reprimanded her.
"Later Rey. I want to finish this and leave." She held her forehead in frustration.
Rey nodded and then looked at Taani. "You can leave for lunch. This can be done tomorrow."
"No wait. We're finishing this." Mansi protested.
"Taani, tum jao. And Manas, you and I, we need to talk!"
"What are we doing here?" Sharon asked looking at all the faces in the room.
"Exactly my question." Arjun muttered looking around.
"Manas hai kidar?" Swayam wondered.
Mansi had called Swayam, Sharon and her interns; Taani, Arjun and Purvi, in her cabin for a meeting early in the morning. The five of them were waiting for her.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting." Mansi entered followed by Rey and Kiya.
"Hume itni subah kyun bulaya?" Swayam asked her.
"And what about the redesigning of our cabins?" Sharon asked further.
"Manas is not taking up that project." Rey informed them.
"What? Why? You had promised!" Sharon protested.
"Manas yaar pehle bata deti. Kisi aur ko le aate. You know we can't afford a delay." Swayam complained.
"I know that, which is why I'm going to appoint them the task." Mansi pointed at her interns.
"But.." Sharon tried to intervene.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure the work is done on time." Mansi reassured her.
"How did you come up with this idea?" Swayam asked Mansi while eyeing Rey, who was controlling the smile growing on his face.
"I need to take a leave for personal reasons. I told Rey about this and he suggested that Taani, Arjun and Purvi can handle this and I'll supervise them, if needed."
"This will be a good exposure for them." Rey added maintaining a straight face.
"How noble of you to think about them." Swayam smirked and Purvi nudged Taani who was trying her best to maintain a straight face.
"Purvi, Arjun, Taani, you guys ready to take the responsibility?" Mansi asked them.
"Of course. After all Rey sir ne kuch soch samajh ke hi hume unke saath kaam karne ka mauka diya hoga." Purvi grinned at Rey.
"Great then, let's get to work!" Rey smiled back.
...
"Since how long were you planning this?" Taani asked Rey once they were in his cabin. She was helping him to clear out the mess he had created in his cabin on the previous day.
"Don't be mad luv. This isn't any favor. At least not towards you." He handed her a file.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She kept the file in the box.
"Manas ko chutti ki need thi and the only thing holding her back at this moment was this project. So, I helped her and in turn helped you as well." He smirked.
"Isme meri kya help hui?"
"Abh tumhe roz bahane banakar mere cabin mein aane ki jarurat nahi. Haq se aa jaa sakti ho." He winked making her mouth go wide.
"Main koi bahane nahi banati."
"Good, banane bhi nahi chahiye. Tumhare boyfriend ka cabin hai. Jab chahe aa sakti ho." He pulled her towards him.
"Rey, behave! We're in the office." She scolded making him pout at her.
"Why are you so uptight?" He complained letting go of her.
"I, uh.."
"Don't answer that."
"No wait, you're right. You are putting in way more effort than me in this relationship and all I'm doing is nothing." Her face fell.
Rey sighed and made her sit on a chair and kneeled in front of her taking her hands in his.
"Don't be so harsh on yourself. And trust me, you are putting in equal if not more effort than me." He gave her hands a tight squeeze.
"Rey, tumne kisiko humare baare mein bataya hai office mein?" She asked.
"Aise kyun pooch rahi ho?" He pulled a chair and sat next to her.
"Kyunki I don't want ki koi humare baare mein gossip kare." She told him truthfully.
"Gossip? Kisi ne kuch kaha hai tumhe?"
"Nahi."
"Manas ne?" He asked and she averted her gaze.
"Kisine kuch nahi kaha."
"What did she say?"
"Rey it's nothing. And we should get back to work. Ma'am aur baaki sab aate hi honge." She got up.
"Jhoot kyun bol rahi ho yaar? Jis tarah Manas kal tumhe taunt kar rahi thi, I'm sure usne kuch sunaya hai tumhe." He got up after her.
"Mansi ma'am ne mujhe as my boss hi daanta hai. Nothing personal. Trust me."
"I'm trusting you on this. Aage agar aisa kuch ho toh let me know of it."
"Why? You'll throw them out of the office?" She chuckled dryly.
"No! But I'll make sure that they know that they are here to work and not gossip."
"Meri taraf itne protective aur Armaan bhai ke baare mein sab baate karte hai uspe no reaction? Why so?"
"Kyunki voh sab bhai nahi mere baare mein baat karte hai and I give a damn of what people think of me. But, it pisses me off if they talk ill about the people I care."
"You, Mr. Reyansh Singhania are a mystery to me."
"You're no less Miss Taani Raichand!"
"Can we come in Rey?" Sharon asked extra sweetly from the door.
Mansi gave her a weird look and entered in followed by everyone else. They got to work and soon came up with a plan of action. Taani, Arjun and Purvi were supposed to redesign the entire cabin along with the storage units which were supposed to be installed. Mansi was going to finalize it and then they would get to work. They had two weeks to finish everything. Mansi appointed Taani, Arjun and Purvi to Rey, Sharon and Swayam respectively and asked them to make a note of everything that they need for the new cabin. Arjun and Purvi left with Sharon and Swayam to their respective cabins, while Mansi waited back with Taani and the three started their work at the small table in Rey's cabin.
After about an hour, Mansi was going over the project details with Taani, so she could finally go on her leave. Rey got up to continue with his pending work of organizing but couldn't move as his cabin had little space to maneuver. On one side was a pile of boxes while on the other side was Taani, talking to Mansi. The only way out was for him was to go from behind her. While moving forward, Rey's hand accidentally brushed Taani's lower back sending chills through her spine. She froze in her spot and Rey moved past her with a light smirk playing on his lips seeing her reaction.
"Taani?" Mansi called to gain her attention.
"Haan?" Taani composed herself. From the corner of her eyes she could see Rey smirking at her. She glared back.
"Listen I wanted to apologize to you." Mansi's words confused Taani. "For yesterday. I shouldn't have yelled at you by taking his name. It was very unprofessional of me." Mansi cleared her confusion and pointed at Rey.
"But what you said was correct. I should be more focused on my work." Taani replied.
"If that is so then prove it to me." Mansi smiled.
"Prove?"
"I'm making you the head for this project. You don't have to report to me and you get to have the final word in it."
"You're joking right? I'm just an intern." Taani's eyes were wide open.
"I am serious. I've seen your growth so far. You can handle this." She smiled.
"Thanks. I.." Taani's sentence was cut short when she felt a pair of hands grabbing her waist from behind.
"You're blocking my way Taani." Rey innocently moved her aside, though his touch was anything but innocent.
"Sorry." Taani quickly moved aside forcing him to release his hold on her making him pout in the process.
She was breathing heavily and could still feel the warmth of his hands on the exposed skin at her waist. She looked at Rey who carried on with his work indifferently and then at Mansi, who was eyeing her suspiciously.
"Taani sit here." Mansi pointed at the empty chair next to hers. "And Rey, care to explain what that was?" She asked sternly folding her arms across her chest.
"Ab maine kya kiya?" He squinted at her.
"Flirting tak theek tha. What you did there was inappropriate! She is my intern. So, please behave." Mansi accused him, making Taani's eyes go wide.
"Ma'am its nothing.." Taani tried to oppose.
"You know, I shouldn't have yelled at you when he was the one giving you leads in the first place!"
"I knew it!" Rey exclaimed. "Jab maine pucha tha tab mana kyun kiya?" He asked Taani.
"You did this on purpose?" Hurt was visible in her eyes.
"You weren't telling me. I had to do something."
"You should have asked instead of insulting me in front of my boss." Taani moved past him to the door, wiping the tears which had started to flow.
"Taani!" Rey stopped her and pulled her to him. She burst into tears in his arms. "I'm sorry. Please don't cry." He soothed her till her sobs reduced.
"How do you two know each other?" Mansi questioned Rey once Taani was quiet.
"We're.. dating." Rey confessed.
"Matlab roke wali news sach hai?" She eyed him.
"Teko kisne bataya?" He was confused.
"Armaan ne. I thought he was joking." She told him and he shook his head at her.
"Taani, listen I'm really sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." He pulled her apart and wiped her face dry.
"That's what you do. You don't think before doing anything." Taani complained.
"I agree to it!" Mansi took her side.
"Haan ab dono milke lo meri." He grumbled making them both laugh.
"No wonder I've caught you staring at him." Mansi teased her.
"So what if she stares at me. I don't mind." Rey snaked his arm around her waist and held her securely.
"Rey!" Taani protested.
"No use Taani. He loves to keep what's his close to him." Mansi smiled warmly.
"Thank you for those kind words. Now you can leave. Go. Shoo."
"Saale harami, thodi toh respect rakh meri."
"Manas nikal. Bohot kaand hogaya hai teri wajah se."
"Whatever! Apna personal issue sort hone ke baad kuch kaam bhi kar lena. Pata chala do week baad mujhi ko sab karna pade." She giggled at Rey's annoyed face and left.
"She's sweet, unlike you." Taani eyed Rey.
"Sorry na. I swear mera koi intention nahi tha tumhe awkward feel karwane ka. Sorry!" He held his ears.
"You should be! Abhi kaam pe lage?"
"Matlab tum maaf nahi karogi?"
"Sochungi."
"At least tell me that you're not mad at me."
"But I am."
"Alright." He took a deep breath and stepped back. "Let's get this work done."
"You're seriously not going to get me to forgive you?" She asked when he got back to his work.
"And make you even mad at me in that process? No, thank you."
"Kya matlab?"
"Matlab yeh ki main hazaar baar bhi sorry bolu toh voh kam hoga after what I did. Aur agar maine hazaar baar sorry bola, toh tum aur jyada irritate hojaogi. Iss se better hai ki kuch na karu."
"When I told you that you were a mystery to me, I wasn't lying a bit." She went forward and hugged him. "I know you are genuinely sorry and I am forgiving you on one condition that you won't repeat this mistake again."
"Thank you luv." He hugged her back.
"And here we go again." She giggled making him laugh as well.
"Rey ko bhi abhi hi jana tha na New York." Sharon cursed him.
"Sharon calm down. He briefed me last night before leaving." Taani informed.
"Kya baat hai. Hume ek sadasa message aata hai raat ke baara baje saying 'I'm going to NYC. It's urgent.' Aur tumhe call. So damn unfair." Sharon complained.
"Kyunki usse pata hai ki inform kiye bina chala gaya toh Taani ne aate hi uski class leni hai." Arjun chuckled.
"Agar tum logon ka teasing session khatam ho gaya ho toh can we get back to work?" Taani said sternly.
"Lagta hai aise achanak jana pasand nahi aaya hai." Swayam chuckled.
"Kisko kya pasand nahi aaya?" Armaan entered.
"AB!" Sharon jumped on him.
"Always with the surprise entries." Swayam gave him a hug.
"Kiske baare mein baatein ho rahi hai?" Armaan asked.
"Kuch nahi. Hum bas aise hi baat kar rahe the." Taani quickly replied.
"Rey kahan hai?" Armaan asked looking around.
"New York." Swayam informed.
"New York? Kab gaya?" Armaan was confused.
"Kal raat. Aap aise kyun pooch rahe ho?" Taani questioned.
"Aise nahi toh kaise poochu?" Armaan chuckled.
"I mean, you are the one who sent him to New York for some urgent work, right? Toh aise kyu poocha?"
"I sent him?"
"Yeah, that's what he told me."
"Main khud abhi wahin se aa raha hoon. Why would I call him there? You sure you heard it right?"
"Absolutely. He told me that since you couldn't reach there, he had to go." Taani was perplexed.
"Seems like you guys are giving my brother a hard time. I'm sure he has run off somewhere for a day or two." Armaan joked on seeing the suspicious look emerging on Taani's face.
"Taani, voh jhoot bolke gaya hai na. Aate hi acchese khabar lena uski." Sharon said shrewdly.
"Voh sab baadmein. Abhi batao kaam kahan tak pahucha hai?" Armaan enquired.
"More than half of it is already done and it'll be complete by the end of this week." Taani informed him.
"Okay good."
"You want anything to be added or changed?" Swayam asked Armaan.
"Ah, no, it already is as per my requirements."
...
"Hello?"
"Where the f*ck are you?" Armaan yelled over the phone.
"Bhai?" Rey was taken aback by his tone.
"What bhai? Hai kidar tu? Aur mera naam leke jaane se pehle mujhe inform karna jaruri nahi samjha?" Armaan yelled more
"Main voh New Yor.."
"Jhoot mat bol. I just landed from there!"
"Oh!"
"Uh-haan! Abh batayega?"
"London." Rey sighed. "She needed me."
"She had called you?"
"No. I had called and she sounded really low. I had to come here to check on her."
"Anything serious?" Armaan asked.
"She had to abort yesterday."
"How old?"
"Sixteen-year-old girl. Unwanted pregnancy." Rey sighed.
"Knocked up teen wanted an abortion. Why is she feeling low? Tell her to suck it up! It's a part and parcel of her profession." Armaan let out a frustrated breath.
"Bhai, why are you doing this? You know that this not just a mere operation for her." Rey asked calmly.
"I know that very well. But, what am I supposed to do?" He sighed in defeat.
"Um.. maybe say yes when she proposes to you." Rey chuckled.
"What?" Armaan was shocked to hear that.
"You heard it right. She has been trying to propose to you since a long time. But, after your fight, you're just not interested in talking to her. Bechaari ko kitni baar plan cancel karna pada hai aap ki wajah se."
"Tujhe yeh sab kabse pata hai?"
"It's been a while." Rey chuckled.
"You cheeky bas***d!"
"Curse me later. Just call her. She's a bit shaken right now." Rey informed him.
"Then be a good friend and be there for her. I am not talking to her till she apologizes."
"That was the plan. To get you angry and then surprise you by proposing. But you had to run away before that happened." Rey huffed.
"I am not calling her. And that's final!" Armaan was adamant.
"Kitne ziddi ho aap!"
"Oh, by the way, maine toh bataya hi nahi." Armaan chuckled.
"Kya?" Rey squinted.
"Taani knows that you lied to her about going to New York."
"How?"
"Tu batake thodi gaya tha ki tere liye cover karu? So, just be prepared with a good excuse by the time you are back as you're not allowed to reveal my secret." Armaan smirked.
"So much for being a good brother." Rey rolled his eyes.
"Good luck!" Armaan ended the call.
"Abh kya excuse banau?"
"It's been two days. You're awfully quiet. What's the matter?" Rey asked Taani.
"Nothing. I'm just busy. I have to submit the project report tomorrow." Taani replied while searching through her files on the desk.
"Rey, we need you here." Swayam called.
The redesigning of the cabins was complete. It was now a single big cabin with wall mounted storage units at one side. In the centre were three working desks arranged for Rey, Sharon and Swayam and on the far end was a table for them to construct the 3D model of the project they were working on.
"Kya hua?" Rey asked peeking over at the model.
"Just wanted you to re-check it." Sharon told him.
"Hmn." He hummed, looking at Taani.
"Dude focus." Swayam waved his hand.
"Yeah sorry. What were you saying?"
"Yahin ki.." Sharon started but Rey interrupted her.
"Am I overthinking or is Taani okay with the fact that I lied to her?" Rey asked.
"Your New York lie?" Swayam asked. Rey nodded.
"We know that you were in London." Sharon told him.
"Who told you that?" Rey asked cautiously.
"AB told us that he found your ticket confirmation or something and that you went to London." Sharon informed.
"As wahan bhai ka kuch signature issues ki wajah se kaam pending tha. And since his visa had expired, he couldn't go there." Swayam added.
"Par tu hume toh bata sakta tha na. Hum thodi AB ke paas jaake sab batane wale the. I can understand that you didn't want to tell him that you are going to do his work, but you could have told us." Sharon complained.
"Bhai ke saamne tu sab ugal deti hai. Chances nahi lene the." Rey chuckled earning a smack from Sharon. "By the way, the model is perfect." He moved back to his desk.
"You are a savior!" Rey texted Armaan for helping him out.
"Rey, ek favor chahiye tha." Arjun said.
"Favor?" Rey looked from Arjun to Taani. She just rolled her eyes.
"Haan bas yahin ki agar Mansi ma'am humare kaam ke baare mein tumhari opinion puche toh thoda positive feedback dena." Arjun grinned.
"Voh main kar dunga. Par mere feedback se tumhari job secure nahi hone wali." Rey kept a hand on his shoulder making Arjun frown and Taani and Purvi giggle.
"Miss Giggles, aaj shaam ko kya kar rahi ho?" Rey turned towards Taani.
"Miss Giggles?" Taani raised her brow.
"Should I go back to the previous nickname, lu.."
"No!" Taani stopped him. "This is fine." He chuckled.
"Why, what was the previous nickname?" Purvi asked.
"Bata doon?" Rey wiggled his brows.
"You were saying something." Taani maintained a straight face.
"I was asking if you were free tonight for dinner?" Rey asked.
"Agar report khatam hui toh yes warna.."
"So yes it is. I'll text you the time. Bye, luv." He left the cabin chuckling at her annoyed face and the hooting of everyone else.
...
"Toh kahan ja rahe ho tum dono?" Arjun asked Taani. They were currently in a cafe finishing their report. Purvi had left early as she was not allowed out of her hostel at late hours.
"I have no idea!" Taani shook her head.
"So, how will you be going? Gaadi ki toh band baji padi hai tere."
"Gaadi se yaad aaya, kal mujhe yaad dila ki mujhe Swayam se uske garage wale ka number lena hai. He was telling that he is very trustworthy and can repair almost any problem."
"Trustworthy?" He questioned her.
"Yeah. The owner of the garage is his friend or something. He even told me to mention his name."
"Great then. If he is really that good, toh hume teri gaadi kabaadkhane mein nahi bechni padegi." He chuckled earning a smack from Taani.
"Taani?" She heard her name being called.
"Abhay, aap yahan?" Taani awkwardly smiled at him.
"Beewi ke saath Mumbai ghoomne aaya hoon." He responded and sat on the empty chair across Taani.
"Oh, you got married." It was more of a question than a statement from Taani. "And she seems to be expecting. Which month?" She asked his wife.
"Paanchva." He answered for her.
Arjun shuffled on his seat to get up and offer her his chair to sit, but Taani stopped him by clenching his arm tightly. Arjun shook his head at her and sat back.
"Maine suna hai tumhara roka hua hai. Yeh tumhara hone wala pati hai?" Abhay pointed at Arjun.
"Nahi yeh mera dost hai." Taani answered meekly.
"Matlab tum itni raat ko kisi paraye mard ke saath ho. Tumhare mangetar ko pata hai?" He asked smugly. "Waise engagement aur shaadi kab hai?" He asked further.
"Abhi kuch decide nahi hua hai." She answered in the same soft voice.
"Tumhi ne mana kiya hoga shaadi ke liye." He taunted.
"Listen.." Arjun started to speak but Taani stopped him by tightening her grip on his arm.
"Tumne toh sharam aur lihaaj bachpan mein hi chod diya tha. Tumhare mangetar ko iss sab ke baare mein pata hai?" He asked smugly and continued further. "Tum kya bataogi. Main hi batata hoon usse."
"Kya batana hai?" Rey asked from behind him.
"Rey.." Taani whispered, half scared, half relieved.
"Thank God!" Arjun sighed in relief.
"Toh tum kuch bol rahe the?" Rey walked forward towards them.
"Aap kaun?" Abhay asked.
"Wahin jis se tumhe baat karni hai."
"Oh, aap Taani ke mangetar ho. Main Abhay Raichand, Taani ka bhai. Nice to meet you." He got up and forwarded his hand to Rey. "Please baithiye na." He gestured towards his chair.
"Offer it to your pregnant wife instead." Rey scoffed and told the waiter who was passing by to arrange for two chairs. Arjun let out a throaty chuckle.
"Thank you." Rey thanked the waiter and gestured at the couple to sit when the chairs arrived.
"Shaadi ki date decide ki? Meri maano toh jald hi shaadi kar lo. Yeh bohot hi bigdi hui ladki hai. Shaadi ke baad hi sudhar sakti hai." Abhay looked at Taani who was still holding on to Arjun's arm.
"Kya matlab hai?" Rey squinted at him and then at Taani who was a hot mess. She was trying hard to hold back her emotions and he was confused as to why she was doing that.
"Abh main kya batau, aap khud hi dekh lo. Apne mangetar ke saamne kisi aur mard ka haath pakad ke baithi hai yeh. Kuch sharam hi nahi hai isme." Disgust was visible on his face.
Taani quickly removed her hand from around Arjun. She started to shiver and that was it for Rey. He clenched his fists.
"Voh kisi ka bhi haath pakad ke baithe. Tumhe uss se kya?" Rey gritted his teeth. "Tum hote kaun ho uspe ungli uthane wale?" He barked at him.
"Main aapke bhale ke liye.." Abhay was interrupted by an angry Rey.
"Mere bhale ki sochne ki teri aukaat nahi hai. Toh iss se pehle ki I embarrass you in front of your wife, just leave!" Rey pointed towards the exit. Taani was looking at him with wide eyes.
"Humari itni beizzati aaj tak kisine nahi ki hai. Issi ne aapke kaan bhare honge hum sab ke khilaaf. Main toh jaa raha hoon, par itna jaroor kahunga ki yeh sirf ghar todna jaanti hai. Apni maa pe jo gayi hai!"
"I said leave!" Rey furiously screamed getting up from his chair which knocked down due to the force with which he got up.
Taani's heart sank. She looked around to see if people were watching her. Luckily for her, there wasn't much of an audience. Abhay left the cafe.
"I'm really sorry." His wife meekly apologized after he was gone and followed him out.
"Who the f*ck was he?" Rey was frustrated.
"Her cousin, apparently." Arjun rolled his eyes.
"And why the f*ck were you letting him talk such nonsense?"
"You think I didn't try?" Arjun showed his hands which were bruised due to Taani's tight grip on him.
"Haath pakad ke baithi thi, muh thodi pakda tha." Rey rolled his eyes at Arjun.
"It wasn't his fault." Taani spoke.
"Oh, tum bol sakti ho? Because I for one thought that you had forgotten how to speak." Rey taunted.
"Can we not go out for dinner today?" She asked trying to avoid his gaze.
"You really think that after what happened right now I am in the mood for dinner?" He sighed seeing her struggle to meet his gaze.
"Arjun, can you drop me home?" Taani asked Arjun.
"Why are you troubling him? Main hoon na." Rey sighed and took her hand in his making her look up at him. "Remember? I'm your savior." He smiled and she broke down in to his arms. He gently soothed her.
"I'll take your leave. You guys carry on." Arjun left smiling at the duo.
"Hum yahan kyun aaye hai?" Taani asked looking at the garden where Rey had stopped. This was the same garden where they had met at the start of their relationship.
"Andar chalo, batata hoon." He got out of the car followed by her.
He went in and ordered ice cream for the two of them. She sat on one of the benches embracing the cool wind which was soothing her.
"Yeh lo." He offered her and sat next to her in silence, enjoying his ice cream.
"Why have we come here? It's getting late. We should head home." Taani asked when they were done eating. She couldn't bear the silence anymore.
"Remember when we met here last year, I had asked you if I were your friend?"
"And I had said yes. Why are you bringing that up?"
"I wanted to remind you that before anything else we are friends. And friends share their feelings with each other." He looked at her and held her gaze.
"Abhay, mere tauji ka ladka hai. Dad's elder brother. You know the family who broke all ties after papa's demise?" She asked. He nodded. "Sach kahun toh yeh rishte uske pehle hi toot gaye the. Meri wajah se."
...
|| Eight Years Ago ||
"Di, why are you crying?" A fourteen-year-old Taani went and hugged Anamika, her elder cousin.
"Papa ne di ko college jaane se mana kiya hai." Ambar, Anamika's younger sibling who was around the age of Taani answered.
"Par tauji aisa karenge kyun?" Shivam was baffled.
"Rehne do bhaiyya. Aap iss sab mein mat pado." Anamika wiped her face dry.
"Voh di ki shaadi kara dena chahate hai. Ek rishta bhi aaya hai di ke liye." Ambar answered.
"Di aap shaadi nahi karna chahati toh tauji se baat kyun nahi karti?" Taani told her.
"Voh nahi maanenge Taani."
"You are nineteen, di. Try and make him understand." Taani coaxed her.
"In a way accha hi hai. Jinka rishta aaya hai unki family itni conservative nahi hai." Ambar informed.
"Tum mili ho?" Shivam asked.
"Haan, ek baar mili hoon. They seemed to be nice people." Ambar replied.
"Ek baar milke rishta fix kar diya?" Shivam knotted his brows.
"Milna toh bas formality thi. Rishta already fix ho chuka tha." Anamika scoffed.
"Par di ka college next year khatam hone hi wala hai. Uske baad shaadi kar sakti hai na voh." Taani looked at Shivam.
"Anu di, kuch khane ke liye bana do. Bohot bhook lagi hai." Abhay, Ambar's twin, barged into the room.
"Abhi bana deti hoon." Anamika got up to leave.
"Abhay, servants se kehke kuch bana lo. Di humare saath busy hai. Taani explained him.
"Maine di ko banane bola hai, tumhe nahi." Abhay sneered and left.
"Tum log yahin ruko. Main aati hoon." Anamika left after him.
"Di ke shaadi ke baad toh main yahan akeli pad jaungi." Ambar spoke softly.
"Abhay hai na." Taani narrowed her eyes at her comment.
"Uska hona hi toh sabse badi problem hai iss ghar mein." Ambar rolled her eyes.
"Kya matlab?" Taani asked her.
"Yeh shaadi all of a sudden nahi decide hui hai. Abhay ne di ko unke boyfriend ko hug karte dekha tha aur usne yeh baat papa ko jaake bata di. Papa ne tabhi se di ko college jaane se rok diya aur unke liye rishte dekhna shuru kiya." Ambar told her.
"Anamika has a boyfriend and she is being forced to marry some other guy?" Shivam took in the information making Ambar chuckle.
"Tum hass kyun rahi ho?" Taani raised a brow at her.
"Kisiko yeh baat pata nahi hai par di ke liye jo rishta aaya hai voh unke boyfriend ka hi hai."
"How? Abhay ne dekha tha na usse?" Shivam was confused.
"Unka face nahi dekha tha. Thankfully he saw him from behind."
"Aur uska rishta kaise aaya?" Shivam asked.
"Jab unko pata chala ki papa rishte dekh rahe hai Anu di ke liye, he convinced his parents for di. Aur unki taraf se rishta aaya and somehow papa thought that he was a good match." Ambar informed the back story.
"Then why is she unhappy? She is marrying her boyfriend na?" Taani was puzzled.
"Marriage is not a piece of cake Taani. Anamika mentally prepared nahi hai itne bade step ke liye." Shivam made her understand.
"Main papa se baat karu? Voh tauji ko mana lenge." Taani asked Shivam.
"Nahi Taani, tum aisa kuch mat karna. Main Anamika se baat karta hoon. You two just don't speak to anyone about this." Shivam left in search of Anamika.
...
"Tauji, aapko di ko force nahi karna chahiye shaadi ke liye." Taani stated firmly standing in the middle of the living room.
"Tumhe yeh sab kisne bataya?" He asked.
"Di ne." Taani replied innocently.
"Anamika!" He roared.
"Jee papa?" She came running out of her room followed by Shivam.
"Yeh Taani kya bakwas kar rahi hai?" He asked her with anger boiling inside of him.
"Shit." Shivam cursed mentally.
"Tauji, aap di se pucho. Usse abhi shaadi nahi karni hai." Taani spoke.
"Yahan kya ho raha hai?" Yash wondered. By now everyone was gathered in the living room.
"Taani, tum mere ghar ke mamle mein mat pado." He warned her.
"Kya hua bhaiyya? Aap gudiya pe kyun chilla rahe ho?" Yash asked him.
"Apni beti se kaho ki apne kaam se kaam rakhe."
"Nahi, main bolungi. Di is an adult now. Voh apne decisions khud le sakti hai. You cannot force her." Taani raised her voice.
"Tumhari maa ne tumhe baat karne ki tameez nahi seekhayi hai?" He rebuked her. "Isme uski bhi galati kahan hai. Usse apne kaam se fursat kahan hai jo tumhe kuch seekhaye." He taunted.
"Bhaiyya." Yash raised his voice at his brother.
"Main bhi kya iss bachchi ko daant raha hoon. Saari fasaad ki jad toh yeh Tanya hai." He pointed at Tanya who was standing behind Yash. "Yash, tumhi ne isse shaadi ke baad kaam karne se roka nahi na, abh dekho iska tumhare bachcho par kya asar ho raha hai."
"Bhaiyya you are crossing your limit. Aur Taani ne koi galath baat nahi kahi hai."
"Aakhir isne tumhe humare khilaaf bhadka hi diya!" He smirked.
"Shivam, tum gudiya, Ambar, Anamika aur Abhay ko lekar andar jao." Yash instructed him.
...
"Uske baad exactly kya hua voh pata nahi. But we heard a lot a screaming and shouting. And then papa came and took us back to Jodhpur. We never visited them after that." Taani finished.
"Well that explains why Abhay loathes you so much. But it doesn't explain why you are so scared of him." Rey asked her.
"Meri wajah se papa ko apni family se durr rehna pada. Aur Ambar, Anu di aur Abhay jo papa ko bohot pasand karte the, voh bhi unse kabhi mil nahi paaye. All because of me!" Taani hung her head low.
"Are you mad?" He said impulsively making her look at him with wide eyes. He composed himself.
"Firstly, what you did there as a fourteen-year-old was commendable. You stood up for your sister. You should be proud of that. And secondly, I don't think what happened was on you."
"I am not proud of that. My father broke ties with his family because of me. Di was going to get married to her boyfriend. Mujhe kuch bhi bolna nahi chahiye tha." Taani held her head in frustration.
"He didn't break those ties because of you." He assured her.
"Tum yeh kaise keh sakte ho?" She squinted.
"Your tauji was insulting his love. He couldn't just stand there and do nothing."
"Are you implying ki yeh sab mumma ki wajah se hua hai?"
"No, you idiot!" He playfully smacked her head. "Yeh kisiki wajah se nahi hua hai. In fact, it feels like it was meant to happen some day or the other."
"Then why did Abhay say ki mujhe bas ghar todna aata hai?" Tears reappeared in her eyes.
"Because honestly, you've made yourself an easy target. Jitni dari hui tum uske saamne thi utni tab bhi nahi thi jab tumhe koi sunsaan road pe follow kar raha tha. You've just burdened yourself with an unnecessary guilt."
"I can't help but think ki kaash maine bhai ki baat maan li hoti aur kisise kuch kaha nahi hota."
"Tum phir shuru ho gayi? Come out of it." He shook her. "Rishte kabhi koi ek wajah se nahi tootate."
"Pata nahi tauji ko mumma se itni problem kyun thi. I mean, haan mumma papa ki love marriage hui thi, but she was never rude to him or anyone else." Taani said after a while.
"Maybe he didn't like the fact that she challenged his believes so much."
"Or he just hated her for having a voice." Taani sneered.
"What about your grandparents?" Rey asked with a smile when he saw her getting back to her normal self.
"I don't remember them quite well, as they passed away when I was very young. But I do recall that daadi was very fond of mumma. Mujhe yaad hai unhone mujhse kahan tha ki main bilkul mumma pe gayi hoon." Taani's lips curved in to a smile.
"See, this, suits you." He pointed at her smile. "Don't every lose that."
"Rey, thank you so much. Aaj agar tum nahi hote.."
"Toh tum abhi ghar jaake ro rahi hoti." He chuckled. "Aur yeh thank you kis liye? Maine tumse pehle bhi kaha hai. I won't entertain anyone who utters nonsense about the people I care."
"I'm lucky to have found you."
Hello everyone
Sorry for taking ages to update. I was just..
In simple English, I had a writer's block.
You have simply no idea how much I had to edit this chapter to make it even worth reading.
I had honestly given up at a point. But, your constant comments demanding an update made me want to complete it for you.
So, thank you all for pestering me about the update.
I really hope that it's a good read.
Mandatory question:
I don't have any for this update.
So, you guys get to ask me a question.
Update/character related or otherwise.
Please comment down below
Posted: June 8, 2018
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